16 July 2018, 17:39
Georgian authorities stop Mindeli Mine operation after miners' deaths
The Georgian government has pronounced the decision to suspend the operation of the Mindeli Mine in Tkibuli. Today, according to the preliminary version voiced by investigators, a methane explosion has occurred and four persons have been killed. The trade unions believe the authorities pronounced the decision to stop the mine operation too late.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that this morning, four miners have been killed in an accident at the Mindeli Mine in Tkibuli, and six others have been hospitalized.
The Georgian authorities have announced the suspension of the mine operation in Tkibuli till the completion of the investigation into the workers' deaths. The authorities have also promised that the miners will continue to get wages during the suspension of the mine.
Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia, has declared the day of July 16 to be a day of mourning. State flags will be dipped at all administrative buildings in the territory of Georgia, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
According to the preliminary version voiced by the investigators, an explosion of methane occurred in a tunnel of the mine, and as a result, the walls were deformed and the ceiling collapsed. Four miners have been killed at the place, and their bodies have already been taken out of the mine, the "Sputnik-Georgia" reports today with reference to the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
The Georgian Trade Union Confederation appealed to the Georgian authorities with a request to suspend the operation and conduct an examination in the Mindeli Mine after an accident of April 5, but the authorities did not react in a timely manner, stated Tamaz Dolaberidze, the deputy head of the Georgian Trade Union Confederation.
On April 5, six persons were killed and three others were seriously injured in a collapse at the Mindeli mine. On the same day, agents of the "Industrial Group of Georgia" Company voiced a version of a rock blow provoked by earthquakes. However, experts came to the conclusion that the tragedy was not related to a natural phenomenon, but it was provoked by a "human factor."
"The authorities were too late with the fulfillment of our demands. If they had done everything in time, the today's tragedy would not have happened," Tamaz Dolaberidze told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 16, 2018 at 02:26 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Inna Kukudzhanova, Galina Gotua Source: CK correspondents
